The Charleston Area Medical Center Health Education and Research Institute, Inc. will receive more than $3 million in federal grants, according to a news release from the office of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
Capito, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, said the funding was secured through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests and will be used to expand CAMC’s telenursing program with new equipment and software, increasing reach and reducing personal protective equipment usage.
Individual awards include $1,696,000 in funding to support the Cardiovascular Information System standardizing reporting and streamlining workflows. This will allow for improved patient care through analysis of automated metrics as well as enable interoperability.
The funding also aims to improve information sharing among health providers’ and CAMC’s cardiology departments, allowing CAMC to read and report CT scan results in real time, the release said.
The hospital will receive $1,500,000 to expand its Telemedicine Regional Hub by purchasing technology for better information sharing between ancillary or nonaffiliated hospital systems with CAMC’s cardiology team. This network will support patients to get the CT scans locally and will keep health care providers in their local communities and not only improve access, but also timeliness of care, per the release.
Also, $750,000 in funding will be used to purchase telenursing software enabling more nurses to perform a large portion of patient care through telehealth devices and equipment.
“We are grateful for Senator Capito’s continued support of health care and access in rural communities,” David Ramsey, president and CEO of Vandalia Health, said in the release. “Over the past four years, CAMC has opened several telemedicine centers throughout West Virginia. In 2023, we expect to treat about 50,000 patients through the convenience of a telemedicine center closer to their home.”
Remote Area Medical (RAM), a nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics delivering free dental, vision and medical care to those in need, will host a two-day clinic in Charleston Oct. 21-22.
RAM will be set up at the Bible Center School, located at 1111 Oakhurst Drive. The clinic is held in collaboration with West Virginia Health Right.
All RAM services are free, and no identification is required. Services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The patient parking lot will open no later than 11:59 p.m. Oct. 20, and remain open for the duration of the clinic.
Once in the parking lot, additional information regarding clinic-opening processes and next steps will be provided. Clinic doors open at 6 a.m.
Due to time constraints, patients should be prepared to choose between dental or vision services, the release added. Medical services are offered, in addition to dental or vision services, free to every patient.
Services available include dental cleanings, fillings, extractions and X-rays; eye exams, eye health exams and eyeglass prescriptions, with glasses made on-site; and women’s health exams and general medical exams.
In some situations outside of RAM’s control, such as inclement weather, volunteer cancellations or other circumstances, the parking lot may open earlier or a smaller number of patients may be served. RAM encourages everyone who would like services, especially dental services, to arrive as early as possible. Clinic closing time may vary based on each service area’s daily capacity, the release said.